See your house from the sky!

This is a satellite view of the Potter County Courthouse. Pennsylvania agencies are building a database of the entire state made from satellite photographs. The images, which are clear enough that you can see your home with ease, will help many state agencies provide better services.

More people will get a clearer bird's eye view of their own neighborhoods or any other site in Pennsylvania.

The state has developed a digital base map that taps into high-resolution aerial photography on an internet site, Google Earth, at earth.google. com.

PAMAP is a seamless digital base map of the state that provides access to road, parcel, elevation, boundaries, hydrography and other data at a scale 10 times better than what was previously available through existing topographic maps.

The statewide digital base map is being created in partnership with state agencies, counties, the federal government and other government entities.

"Thanks to these highly accurate pictures, now you can see exactly what your house looks like from the sky," said State Geologist Dr. Jay Parrish. "This imagery can also help emergency responders deal with hazardous situations faster, help planning agencies plan for development, and help with more accurate flood plain mapping."

PennDOT is using the imagery for updates of state and local road networks. UPC Wind has tapped the resource to study potential sites for industrial wind turbines. A college is using it to classify forest types in the Allegheny National Forest.

While Google Earth is using the imagery only, the PAMAP program includes topography, buildings, boundaries, land cover, transportation, and hydrography.

PAMAP data also is contributing to the national map being created in support of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.